CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
Cochon II
Our van made it four blocks before getting pulled over. Over the top of the stacked luggage I saw that we were not being stopped by a marked vehicle. It was a sedan with one of those portable ‘Kojak’ red lights stuck to its roof.
“You got somebody named Arch Patton in that thing?” the driver was asked. I spied the questioner from my spot in the back seat on the passenger side. A knowing sigh escaped from me. The man was obviously an FBI agent. Their kind wore the same uniform. A suit of mediocre color and quality, coupled with a short cheap haircut. Sunglasses had been added over the years, following an FBI director’s enchantment with the cheesy movie Smokey and the Bandit. I opened the door and got out.
Awesome writing as usual. I read the whole thing in a couple evenings (that turned into mornings) I couldn’t put it down! I hope there is a sequel? Or something to satisfy my longing for what happened next? Thank you so much and I look forward to each new installment of “30 days” as well
The follow on book to the 30 Days series will be about coming home and it is to be called ‘The Cowardly Lion.’
Thanks for the liking the books and also for wanting a sequel…great compliments…
Semper fi,
Jim
Started reading The Bering Sea to fill in the time between episodes of Thirty Days Has September and greatly enjoyed it. A very different tale with, I suspect, a bit more fiction thrown in than Thirty Days. Lo and behold, near the end of the last chapter of the Bering Sea was a photo of the MV Retriever. In the early 60’s it was docked near the NASA-Johnson Space Center (Manned Spacecraft Center in those days) in Houston. It was primarily used by the Landing and Recovery Division engineers to develop spacecraft water recovery procedures and crew training. I was a Project Engineer in Spacecraft Design at the time and used it on one occasion for a drop test of a prototype scale model of a Project Gemini inflatable Rogallo wing. A few years later the Retriever dropped out of sight as water landings became a thing of the past. It’s nice to know the old girl didn’t end up in a scrap pile somewhere and had a second life in Alaska, about as far from Houston as you can get!
It is still up in Alaska and I still own it!!! Meaning to get back up there.
Thanks for noticing the old babe. Great boat.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another Masterful piece of writing. As much so as 30 Days! I hope this isn’t the end of this adventure after riding the rollercoaster this far. None of us will probably ever know but I have a bad feeling about the two guys took you out and brought you back across from that hell hole. I have a feeling life did not end well for them. Seems there will be many in “Higher” places who may not approve of your disclosure of these events. Truth is, especially in today’s world, more people need to have a deeper understanding of how this world works. Truth, given at the right time to those willing to listen, can the most valuable tool in the toolbox of life. My deepest hope is you don’t get thrown to the mat for what you’ve revealed. Thanks again for all of your writing. I hope and pray these hard to release truths set you as free as it seems to be for so many following your stories.
The adventures of the past play through my mind as I get older.
Many with a smile but some with bitterness because life can be so obtuse, unforgivable and deceptive to go through.
The ‘players’ in most of my life have gotten much older or are not around anymore.
The system does not remember for as long as people think and the people offended pass from office.
Thanks for your care.
What are they going to do, make me older and blinder?
Semper fi,
Jim
Excellent story and writing Sir! The collection of characters seems unbelievable, yet I sense a true realism exists for each and everyone. Keep up the great writing and best of luck with the upcoming surgery!
Best Wishes,
Tim
Yes to all of that. The characters are so real I used some of their real names,
not that it’s likely any will contact me now.
People who work on expedition ships are usually ‘lost’ out there in the world.
People who live inside this insular culture remain unaware that
most of humanity wanders the world every day and night out there,
whether in big or small geographic swatches, territories or areas.
Semper fi,
Jim
Those who are employed in conditions that are not “normal” (such as not going home daily, eating with ‘family’ regular have an opportunity to ‘get away from it all’ occasionally) easily develop what we might consider strange attitudes.
These characters are believable based on personal experience.
I enjoyed Arch Patton: Down in the Valley very much, but the Bering Sea,
in the first person, was a different slant for sure.
Thank you for sharing these exciting adventures
Thank you Chuck for getting this up for all to read. You are truly a Great friend/helper to James and his readers. God Bless you.
Chuck is the man. Whithout Chuck none of this would have happened or be up here at all. In fact, there would be no website…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, every time I go to your website, I get a red page covering your home page and have to click on the X at the top right corner to get rid of it. Are you setting up a new home page or is this the result of a hacking attempt?
I don’t know J. I will ask Chuck.
Semper fi,
Jim
Absolutely a Great Book, James. I am so glad you decided to publish it and it will definitely sell. I hope there will be a sequel to it. If so, my bet is on M to maybe wind up with most of that gold, that is if Arch doesn’t figure her out first. Lol.
Great writing from an Awesome Gifted writer.
Prayers for you always,
Nancy
You are too much Henderson and I love it. There was some fiction to the rendition of the mission.
If you want I’ll tell you the straight truth in a private message. The gold was and is real, though.
The island name and position is wrong. And I remained true to my wife back home all the way through.
Semper fi,
Jim
You betcha. PM me.
Did.
Jim
Praying this next surgery heals your eye. Gods purpose for your writing is so real. Please take time to let your eye heal and I know Mary is gonna take your electronics away from you for a while so let her.
Prayers for you always,
Nancy
Yes, there is the home ‘Marine Corps Drill’ thing that will go on and I will lose what
little autonomy I have in life for awhile.
Until I can escape. But the eye thing does put you down.
And it’s not very entertaining when you can’t even watch television
or write or whatever….I have to get ahead of the game…
today…
and thanks of the prayers.
Love,
Me
It’s been a cold and wet few days here in the Idaho back country so I got to catch up on my reading. Great story and a real page turner. I have very much enjoyed it and waiting for the rest.
Thanks Month. Much enjoy being bad weather reading. So glad you like what you are reading.
Semper fi,
Jim
Learning to like your story telling abilities. Don’t stop now!
Not stopping, not even slowing, until a bit next week for the second surgery (the first one failed. Shit). But I’ve gone through it before
and I’m a trooper so I’ll come right on through but I’ll be down for a few days. Another Tuesday surgery. You, of all my friends on here,
know about the trepidation of that shit. I wish my eye was not in the center of my head, or close. So to speak!
Thanks for the backing here and the prayers too. I think about you…
Semper fi,
my friend,
Jim
Was wondering if you picked up your story telling ability from listening to the tales of Garrison Keillor?
Sorry to hear about your setback with surgery. Hopefully this next one will be more successful. You didn’t get an infection did you?
Your name has been before the Lord on a daily basis, so don’t be surprised if you experience some spiritual awareness in the near future. All you have to do is Talk to Him and He will answer you.
I love his show. I never read him. So I don’t know where it comes from, other than lots of writing and life experience
kind of tossed together like a salad.
Thanks J, as usual…
Your friend,
Jim